Selaginella – Identification

Q: I have this low growing plant in the shade beside a hosta. It appeared on its own. I love it, but don’t know what it is. The leaves are finely divided–almost like the branch of a conifer. Can you identify it?

A: My friend Shannon Pable identifies it as one of the selaginella’s….a spore-forming plant akin to ferns.

Your’s looks like Selaginella plana, cypress club moss, but it could also be peacock moss, Selaginella uncinata.

Either way, it is an excellent groundcover. Most selaginella’s are winter-hardy here…just don’t let tree leaves cover them up in winter.